The Documented History Of Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico
- The Persaud Catalog
- Jan 30
- 6 min read
In this article, we shall be discussing the Documented History of Sayulita. Sayulita is a small resort town on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
It is located in the Nayarit state, & is just north of Banderas Bay. Their beaches are extremely popular amongst surfers, & have been popular for a long time. Additionally, the coastline is popular amongst snorkelers & scuba divers alike.
Its proximity to Puerto Vallarta also helps with domestic tourism. The nightlife is extremely active, which is a very attractive feature. Well known for its food, never ending parties, & wildlife, the city truly has something to offer to almost everyone. However, with all of these intriguing things to do, many often forget about the magnificent wildlife of Sayulita.
Sayulita has many, many different creatures, from whales, to geckos, to land crabs. The landscape is vast, & unequivocally biodiverse. Approximately 300 bird species are found in the city, both near the coast & the mountains.
However, this is not these are not the only things Sayulita has to offer, as the area has a rich & beautiful history. Sayulita’s name comes from an Aztec word, Sayolin, which means “The Place of the Flies”. The city was named by Nahuatl resident Don Lauro González Guerra. A few sources claim that he named it after Sayula, Jalisco, Mexico, however this is not confirmed.
For the majority of its history, Sayulita has been isolated from the rest of Mexico, & has developed largely on its own. The indigenous aboriginals that inhabited the area prior the Spaniards sailing in, are the Huichol. They still inhabit the area, & are extremely active. These indigenous aboriginals, are descended directly from the Aztecs.
In this article, we shall discuss the documented history of Sayulita, the indigenous aboriginals of Sayulita, the most destructive man-caused & natural disasters to affect Sayulita, & the economic state of Sayulita. With that being said, let us delve into the rich, tropical, & intriguing history of Sayulita, Mexico.
The Documented History Of Sayulita
Before Colonization
Prior to Colonization, Sayulita was inhabited by the Aztecs, & later the Huichol. These people would fish, & generally use the coastline as a source of economic development.
After Colonization By The Spaniards
Historical Events From The 1500’s To The 1800’s
The first Spanish Explorer sailed in, in the year 1524. This explorer went by the name of Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura. Upon sailing in, it was discovered by him & his men that Sayulita had a lot of economic potential, as the coconut palms in the region provide a rich palm oil. The men quickly began working to extract the oil, & shipping it out. For the next few centuries, this is largely what sustained the economy.
After Mexico’s Independence
Historical Events From The 1900’s
During the turn of the century, Sayulita had a mere 6 to 10 houses, with 6 to 10 families. In 1936, the cities future seemed dire, so much so that a Mexican resident Don Santiago gave the families in the area plots of land, to prevent the city from falling apart. During this time, Palm Oil was still the main source of revenue for the city, however this began to slowly change. Slowly, people came in from all around, as they began to recognize the cities beauty, & fishing began to become more popular.
In the 1940’s, agriculture & fishing began to appear, & slowly grew as an industry in the city. As early as the 1960’s, American, British, Australian, Mexican, & Brazilian surfers would visit the city to surf. This prompted the construction of the Las Varas-Vallarta highway, which opened the city to even more tourism. As these surfers began to spread the knowledge of the city, more began to trickle in. By the 1990’s, Sayulita’s main economic source shifted to tourism, & surfers found the area increasingly attractive.
The Indigenous Aboriginals Of Sayulita
The Huichol Indigenous Aboriginals Of Sayulita
The Huichol Indigenous Aboriginals are a small group of Native Mexicans found in the state of Nayarit. They refer to themselves as Wixàritari.They primarily inhabit the Sierra Madre Mountains. They are considered to be the last tribe in North America to still practice Pre-Columbian traditions.
As of 2026, there are approximately 35,000 living Huichols. They traditionally speak the Wixárika Niukiyari language, which belongs to the Uto-Aztecan Language Family. The modern diet of the average Huichol individual primarily consists of cheese, milk, rice, pasta, beans, corn tortillas, peppers, & various vegetables. As for livestock, many keep cattle, chickens, pigs, & goats. It is not clear whether or not they practice agriculture. The Huichol people are directly descended from the Aztecs.
Marriage in their culture is often arranged between 2 families, for individuals between 14 & 17 years of age. Once married, the couple will traditionally live in a stone house with thatched roofs. These houses are constructed with the family in mind, & have a communal kitchen. Oftentimes, these houses will be on a ranch, & have family shrines known as Xiriki. The family model is built around extended family, instead of a smaller nuclear family. Districts of related ranchos are known as a temple district. These temple districts comprise a larger district, which are governed by a council of shamans known as Kawiterutsixi.
Possibly the most popular things the Huichol are known for, are their beadwork, yarn paintings, & embroidery. The Huichol people make many artistic pieces, often with religious or naturalistic influences. These pieces are important to their culture, & to their shamanistic traditions.
As they have lived in the mountains for hundreds of years, they find the mountains to be sacred. In their belief system, the mountains are home to mystical beings. Their religion & world view is deeply tied to nature, & the land they live on. Traditionally, the belief is that 2 governing gods rule the world, those being Tayuapá the sun god, & Nacawé the rain goddess. In their creation myth, Tayuapá created humans with his own saliva, & dropped them in the ocean waves. Afterward, he flew across the ocean in a bird form, & dropped a large cross in the ocean. He climbed this cross from the ocean floor, & killed all the darkness of the world, leaving light alone.
The Most Destructive Man Caused & Natural Disasters To Affect Sayulita
Disaster No. 1: Hurricane Rosalyn
Hurricane Rosalyn was a category 4 hurricane in the Pacific Ocean, lasting from October 20th, 2022, to October 24th, 2022. It was the tenth hurricane in the 2022 Pacific Hurricane Season. It effected the Pacific coast of Mexico, & caused approximately 56.7 million U.S.D in damages. As of 2026, there are 4 recognized direct fatalities as a result of the storm.
The Economic State Of Sayulita
The economic state of Sayulita is relatively stable. The primary industry of Sayulita is tourism, which greatly benefits the locals. With the economic boom caused by tourists, many businesses have been able to grow & expand in ways that were previously not possible. As of 2026, the average cost of living for a local is 1,266 U.S.D per month.
Directories / Credits
Citation No. 1: “History; Culture; & Tourism | Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By Villa Los Corales. Retrieval Date: March 27th, 2024.
Citation No. 2: “Sayulita’s Past & Present”, Written by Maria Zache, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Sayulita Life. Retrieval Date: March 27th, 2024.
Citation No. 3: “Sayulita, Mexico: Where Magic Meets History” Written by Jessica VanNess, & Published on August 19th, 2023. Published by Process Ceramics. Retrieval Date: March 28, 2024.
Citation No. 4: “Sayulita, Nayarit” Written by María Fernanda Romero Villavicencio, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Timeline. Retrieval Date: March 28, 2024.
Citation No. 5: “The Huichol of the Sierra Madre” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By the Dance Of The Deer Foundation. Retrieval Date: March 28, 2024.
Citation No. 6: “Huichol Culture, Art, & Religious Traditions” Written By Unknown, & Published on May 25th, 2021. Published by Garza Blanca Resorts. Retrieval Date: March 28, 2024.
Citation No. 7: “Hurricane Rosalyn” Written By Robbie Berg, & Published on February 15th, 2023. Published by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Retrieval Date: March 28, 2024.
Citation No. 8: “Cost Of Living In Sayulita” Written By Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Nomad. Retrieval Date: March 28, 2024.
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